The subject of video-games is again the cover story in this week’s Georgia Straight.

Shawn Conner writes about how the video-game industry is working to get women more involved, both as players and creators.

I cover a RCMP raid on a Richmond retail location that was allegedly selling pirated versions of video-games and provide a round-up of some portable gaming choices.

My in-depth look at Nintendo’s next-generation video-game console, the Wii, published today in Calgary’s FFWD Weekly.

Spielberg has joined forces with reality-show guru Mark Burnett (Survivor) to create a new series that will air this spring and summer.

On the Lot puts 16 filmmakers, who have qualified based on their self-directed short film, in competition for a million-dollar development deal and an office “on the lot.”

Plus: Pirate Master, another new reality show coming this summer.

Learn more about it all in this week’s Channel Changer.

I do not know why Kim Mitchell is in my head so early on this day. What I do know is that I need to get him out, quick.

I know that, before long, the relatively innocuous “Go For Soda,” off of his debut full-length Akimbo Alogo, will transform into the dangerous meme that is “Patio Lanterns.”

Dangerous in the sense of propagating awfulness.

That’s the last thing I need today.

EDIT
Listening to an advance copy of the new Arcade Fire release did the job, and exorcised Kim Mitchell from my brain.

Yesterday, C and I spent some time in the room that used to be our home office, but has been moving through a conversion of sorts. A crib was constructed in that room yesterday.

C has a small iPod speaker system we got for her office that she’s set up in the room and while the construction was going on, Feist songs were on random, and the opening track to her first solo album, Monarch: Lay Your Jewelled Head Down really stuck in my head.

It’s a weird song, actually, because it is just so overt about its point: that it is cool to love your family. The catchy melody kept it in my head, though, so I woke up with the song this morning.

Somehow appropriate that it is the song I remember hearing when I was making ready for my daughter, which is good because I’m still doing a double-take and feeling pangs of panic when I walk past that room and catch a glimpse of the crib.